More than two thousand well wishers attend the Snehalaya's annual award ceremony

Ahmednagar , 27th September, 2010 

More than 2000 well wishers, past students, volunteers and Donors of Snehalaya were present on annual get-together and award ceremony.  Eminent personalities from all walks of life were present at the occasion. Padmabhushan Dr.K.H.Sancheti (renowned Orthopedic surgeon from Pune)     ,Mr. Raju Shetty, (Member of Parliament and leader of Farmer's movement), Mr. Baban Pachpute (Guardian Minister,  Ahmednagar District), Dr. P.Anbalagan (District Collector, Ahmednagar),Dr. Bapu Kandekar (Heart Surgeon and M.D of Noble Hospital and Research centre) were among the participants. Dr.Sancheti has inaugurated the Exhibition of various projects of Snehalaya in Alliance Auditorium. 

             
Background of Snehalaya Award Ceremony
 On this occasion , the  several selfless grass root social workers were honored with  various  awards. Each awards includes Rs. 11 thousands , a scroll of honor and a memento.  This was the 10th year of the award ceremony which began with a fund donated veteran Social worker Mr. Madhusudan alias Mama Kaundinya. He was the principal of Sangamner College for 38 years which is established by him. Mr. Kaundinya has distributed his entire  lifetime earnings including his house and farm at Sangamner to 11 worthy NGOs, including Snehalaya. At Snehalaya this fund is used to encourage like minded volunteers and NGOs This year following social workers were selected .

1-Mr.Anshu Gupta(Goonj Institution ,New Delhi  ) - 'Sane Guruji award' for innovative  grass root social work.

 2-Smt.Sudhatai Lodha (Satya sadhana Mahila Mandal, Pune) - 'Mahamanav Baba Amte Award' for remarkable work of  social change .

3- Mrs. Jyoti Pthania (Chaitnya Mahila Mandal, Bhosari,Pune) - 'Com.Godavari Parulekar Award' for working for betterment of  neglected girls and women .

4-Mr. Rajeev Pandit-(Jividha institution working in Sahyadri mountain ranges ) - 'Dr. Dhananjayrao  Gadgil award' for Rural development and environment protection .

5-Mr.Raju Shetty (Founder of Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana, Maharashtra and Member of Parilament) - 'Prof. Madhu Dandawate award' for the ideal parliamentarian

6- Mr.Vijay Dhopavakar (D.Y.S.P , in charge  of anti corruption dept.) - 'Anna Hazare Anti corruption crusader award' for outstanding work to curb the curruption .

7-Dr.Ashwini Jojara( Sahyog India Institution , Jammu and Kashmir) - Freedom fighter 'M.V Devchakke Award' for strengthening the spirit of freedom struggle .

8- Mrs. Pushpalata Ranbagul (Snehjyoti Project of Snehalaya) - 'Late.Lata Pawar Atma parivatrtan Award' for changing own life and becoming the role model for other women .

9- Mr. Ajay Kale( Snehalaya  rehabilitation centre) - 'Govardhandasji Gujar award' for dedicated volunteering in Snehalaya .

 All the recipients  shared their experiences and their work. 

Dr.Sancheti said that he was successful only because he never forgets his starved  child hood.  Mr. Raju Shetty told that he was a small farmer who lost his father very early He was moved by the the pitiable condition of farmers and their exploitation. He was inspired by Sharad Joshi , a farmer leader and founder of Shetkari Sanghatana. Later he has formed his own political party and organization named Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana. Twice he was elected to  Maharashtra legislative assembly and in 2010 was elected to the 'Loksabha'.    

         
Mr.Shetty told that he wants to represent the NGOs in the parliament. He would happily share his good office and position of M.P. to solve the problems of the common people through the NGOs. He has expressed optimism that strong networks and united actions  of the honest NGOs will influence the programs and the practices of the government at large extent.

Mr.Babanrao Pachpute, Guardian Minister of Ahmednagar District appreciated the work of Snehalaya,  while Dr. Kandekar said that Snehalaya is pride of Maharashtra .He felt proud to preside the function and was moved to see various activities of Snehalaya. 

Mrs. Bagul said that the prostitutes are treated as secondary citizen of the country. Government offers several facilities to dalits, trials ,and other weaker sections of the society while forced sex workers who were living in worse conditions had no recourse to government protection or rehabilitation. She gave an application to Mr. Shetty and Mr. Pachpute to help the exploited commercial sex workers of Maharashtra

From Snehalaya, Mr.Milind Kulkarni , Sandiop Kusalkar, Dagadu Lomate, Ajit Kulkarni , Ambadas Chavan and Anil Gawade spoke at the occasion.